Apparatus for winding web materials



Feb; 24, 1970' P. E. HARMON APPARATUS FOR WINDING WEB MATERIALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001". 2, 1967 M/l/ENTOR PAUL E. HARMON er mmwzf z Feb. 24,1970 P. E. HARMON 3,497,150

APPARATUS FOR WINDING WEB MATERIALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2. 1967 FIG-3 Feb. 24,1970 P. E. HARMON APPARATUS FOR WINDING WEB MATERIALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 2, 1967 United States Patent O Ohio Filed Oct. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 672,102 Int. Cl. B65h 19/20 U.S. Cl. 242-56 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Winding apparatus wherein a reel supports a pair of cores having a reversible drive, and a roll changer has a carriage supporting a resiliently biased pressure roll for movement between a retracted position providing un restricted movement of a full roll on the reel and an extended position into the path of an empty core on the reel. A knife mechanism is mounted on the carriage and is actuated in response to rotation of the reel to a predetermined position, and an actuator is carried by the reel for engaging the supporting for the pressure roll to move the pressure roll against the bias and then to release the roll to fire against a rotating empty core in timed relation with the movement of the knife.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In apparatus for continuously winding web materials and including a turret or reel in combination with an automatic roll changer, such as disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,943,806 issued to the assignee of the present invention, the cores on the reel are commonly driven in one directon, and the reel is indexed in one direction so that the same side of the web passing through the roll changer always forms the outer surface of the winding roll. In some installations, however, it is desirable to provide not only for transferring the winding of the web from a full roll to an empty rotating core without stopping the web, but also to provide for conveniently reversing the Winding operation so that either side of the web may be selected as the outer surface of the rewinding roll. For example, it is sometimes desirable to be able to select which side of a paper web will form the outer surface of the rewind roll so that when the roll is subsequently unwound and the Web is processed in a coating machine, a predetermined side of the web will be coated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 3,497,150 Patented Feb. 24,1970

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which is movable horizontally to position a biased pressure roll between a retracted position providing clearance for revolving a full rewinding roll on the reel and an extended position in the path of the cores on the reel. The carriage also moves automatically in response "to movement of the pressure roll to provide for build-up of a winding roll at the web transfer station with minimum changes in the web path.

A set of knife mechanisms are mounted on the carriage on opposite sides of the web directed around the pressure roll and are controlled by a rotary limit switch driven from the main shaft of the reel. The support for the pressure roll includes cam members which are engaged by the corresponding rollers mounted on the reel arms so that the pressure roll is moved against the spring bias in response to rotatiton of the reel. The pressure roll is released to fire against the new core in response to continued rotation of the reel so that pressure engagement of the pressure roll and the core occurs in precise timed relation with the actuation of the knife mechanism.

The differlent features provided by the retractable pressure roll carriage, a knife mechanism on each side of the'web, the reversible drives for the cores and the reel, and the movement of the pressure roll and knife mechanisms in precise timed relation with the rotation of the reel provide for conveniently reversing the winding operation. Other features and advantages of the invention paratus for continuously winding a web and as a primary feature provides for conveniently reversing the winding operation and thereby for selecting either side of the web to form the outer surface of the winding roll. The apparatus also provides the important feature of high dependability in transferring the web from a full roll to a v new core. Furthermore, the apparatus provides for buildup of a full roll of web material at the web transfer station to avoid steps or notches in the winding roll commonly produced by sudden changes in the web path resulting from incremental indexing of the turret as the winding roll increases in diameter.. I

-In accordance with a preferred embodiment ofwlud ing apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention, a winder includesa reversible reel supporting a pair of diametrically spaced cores and a pair of diametrically will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of winding apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention including a turret winder and a roll changer;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the roll changer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the turret winder shown in FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the roll changer taken generally on the line 5-5 of-FIG. 1',

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a knife mechanism with a portion of a supporting side plate shown in phantom;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section takengenerally on the line 7"7 of FIG. 9; 1

FIG,"8 is a detailed view of thepressure roll support with a portion of a supportin gside plate shown in phantom; and j 2 FIG. 9 'is'a fragmentary section taken generally on the line 9 -9 of FIG. 7. l

DESCRIPTION OF THE'PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The winding apparatus shown in FIG. 1 generally includes a turret winder 15 haying a set of parallel spaced upright pedestals 16 and 17 (FIG. 3) which rotatably support the main shaft 18 of'a turret or reel 20. One end of the main shaft 18 is driven by a reversible motor 21 through a gear reducer 22 mounted on the pedestal 17, and the opposite end of the ,shaft'18 is connected through a chain belt-drive 23 to drive a' rotary limit switch 24 mounted onthe pedestal 16.

The reel 20 includes a set of parallel spaced arms 26 and- 28 which are rigidly mounted on the shaft 18, and the ends of the arm 26 support rotatable spindles. 29 which engage corresponding ends of parallel spaced cores 30. Each spindle 29 is conected'by a chain drive32 to a corresponding sleeve (not' shown) mounted on the shaft 18, and the sleeves are driven by chain drives .35 connected to corresponding reversible drive motors so that each spindle 29.may be independently driven in either direction.

reely rotatable spindles 36 are carried by the ends of the eel arm 28 for supporting the opposite ends of the cores 0, and each spindle 36 is movable axially by an air ylinder 38 or other suitable means for inserting and removing the cores from the spindles.

A roller 40 is rotatably supported adjacent each end of ach arm 26 and 28 by the corresponding brackets 41 and -2 and is adapted to engage corresponding cams when the eel 20 is rotated as will be described later. A pair of arallel spaced arms 45 (FIG. 1) are also mounted on he main shaft 18 adjacent the arms 26 and 28, and a earing 46 is mounted on each end of each arm 45 for otatably supporting a pair of diametrically spaced guide ollers 48 disposed in a plane perpendicular to the plane f the cores 30.

The winding apparatus of the invention further includes roll changer 50 (FIG. 1) having a frame 51 comprising pair of T-shaped end stands 52 rigidly connected by a ubular cross member 53. Each end stand 52 includes .n upper horizontally extending elongated member 55 FIG. 5) which supports a longitudinally extending track i6 (FIG. 7) having a pair of parallel spaced guide slots 17. A set of bearing brackets 59 and 60 (FIG. 5) are nounted on the upper surface of each frame member 55 'or supporting corresponding guide rolls 61 and 62 (FIG. l), and a squaring roll 65 (FIG. 1) is supported between he frame members 55 with one end fixed and the other and adjustable laterally by a hand knob 66 secured to the :nd of an adjusting screw 67.

A carriage 70 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is positioned between he frame members 55 and includes a pair of vertically Jositioned parallel spaced plates 72 which are slidably nounted on the corresponding tracks 56 by a pair of guide rails 74 (FIG. 7) rigidly secured to each plate 72 and projecting into the slots 57 of the corresponding track 56. The carriage 70 is moved horizontally on the tracks 56 by a pair of screw jacks including lead screws 75 (FIG. 9) which extend longitudinally within the corres- )onding tracks 56 (FIG. 7) from corresponding gearboxes 76 (FIGS. 2 and 9) interconnected by a coupling shaft 77 and driven by a reversible drive motor 78 (FIG. 2) supported by a bracket 79 mounted on the side of one at the frame members 55. A nut 80 (FIG. 9) is mounted )n each screw 75 and is confined between a pair of stops 82 secured to the adjacent plate 72 by screws 83 (FIG. 7). Thus when the motor 78 is energized, the plates 72 moves simultaneously along the corresponding tracks 56 and remain in opposed relationship at all times.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the plates 72 of the carriage 70 are rigidly connected by a pair of vertically spaced tubular cross members 85. A pair of upper and lower bearings 86 (FIG. 5) are mounted on each plate 72 for supporting the journals of a pair of upper and lower shafts 88. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 8, a pair of parallel spaced and vertically extending arms 90 have their lower ends rotatably supported by the journals of the lower shaft 88. A pair of aligned bearings 92 are mounted on the upper ends of the arms 90 and support the journals 94 of a pasting or pressure roll-95 extending between the arms 90. v

,A spring cylinder (FIG. 8) is mounted on each plate 72 and encases an elongated compression spring 101 mounted -on a rod 102 having its forward end portion pivotally connected to the upper end portion of the corresponding arm 90 by a pin 103. A screw 104 is threaded into a rear end wall 105 of each cylinder 100 and supports a plunger 106 engaging the adjacent end of the spring 101. Each-screw 104 is adjustable for adjusting the biasing force exerted by the spring 101 on the corresponding arm 90. Each arm. 90 carries an angle bracket 107 (FIGS. Sand 8) normally engaging a stop 108 secured to the inner surface of the adjacent plate 72. F .Referring to FIGS. land 8, a set of cams 110 ar mounted on each arm 90 and are adapted to be engaged by the corresponding rollers 40 mounted on the ends of the arms 26 and 28 of the reel 20 as mentioned above. The engagement of the rollers 40 against the cams 110 cause the arms 90 to move rearwardly against the bias of the springs 101 and thereby to hold the pressure roll 95 away from an empty rotating core 30 until the reel 20 rotates to aposition where the cams 110 drop off the rollers 40. Limit switches 113 (FIG. 8) are mounted on each plate 72 and are actuated by movement of the arms 90 to control the drive motor 78 for the carriage 70.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the carriage 70 includes a knife mechanism positioned above the pressure roll 85 and another knife mechanism 120 below the roll. Each mechanism includes a pair of parallel spaced arms 121 which are rigidly secured to the corresponding shaft 8. The outer ends of the arms 121 are pivotally connected to corresponding arms 122 (FIG. 6) by pins 123. The forward end portion of the arms 122 are connected by a laterally extending angle member 124 which supports a cut-off knife 125 having a serrated cutting edge 126. The rear end portion of each arm 122 is pivotally connected by a pin 127 to a link 128 rotatably supported by a stub shaft 129 secured to the adjacent plate 72.

A pair of air cylinders (FIG. 6) are pivotally mounted on each cross member 85 by corresponding pins 136 connected to brackets 137 rigidly secured to the cross member. Each air cylinder 135 includes a piston rod 140 which is pivotally connected to ears 141 (FIG. 5) projecting from the angle member 124 supporting the corresponding knife 125. Thus when either pair of cylinders 135 are actuated, the corresponding knife 125 is moved to a position 'as shown by the dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 6 so that the cutting edge 126 of the knife extends through the centerline path of the cores 30 on the reel 20. A guard plate 145 (FIG. 6) is mounted on each shaft 88 to protect the cutting edge 126 of each knife 125 in its retracted position as shown in FIG. 3.

In operation, a web W is directed to the reel changer 50 over the guide rolls 61 and 62 and under the adjustable squaring roll 65. The web is then directed either over or under the pressure roll 95 depending upon whether clockwise winding or counterclockwise winding of a roll R is desired. The roll R builds up at the web transfer station A with the use of the pressure roll 95 as a rider roll. That is, an increase in diameter of the roll R actuates the lower limit switch 113, causing the carriage 70 to be retracted until the upper limit switch 113 is actuated causing the motor 78 to stop.

When the roll R is almost fully wound at station A while in contact with the pressure roll 95, and it is almost time to sever the web W and transfer it to a new rotating core 30 which has a prepared adhesive surface, the reel 20 is slowly rotated or indexed either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending upon the direction of winding, so that the roll R is moved to the roll unloading station B (FIG. 1). Thus as illustrated in FIG. 1 for counterclockwise winding, the reel is rotated counterclockwise, and the carriage 70 is extended so that the rollers 40 adjacent the ends of the empty rotating core 30 engage the corresponding upper cams 110 on the arms 90.

Continued rotation of the reel moves the upper ends of the arms 90 against the bias of the spring 101 so that the pressure roll 95 is retracted and held away from the prepared surface of the empty core 30 until the core is brought into contact with the web W, which occurs when the arms 26 and 28 supporting the core 30 arrive at an angle C (FIG. 1) of approximately 3. At this point, the rollers 40 peak over the upper cams 110, causing the pressure roll 95 to be fired against the empty core "30 under the force exerted 'by the compressed springs 101. It is to be understood that it is withinthe scope of the invention to employ fluid pressure cylinders in place of the springs 101 for biasing the arms 90.

Substantially simultaneously with the firing of the pressure roll 95, the rotary limit switch 24 controlled by the rotation of'the reel shaft 18 energizes the lower pair of air cylinders 135, causing the corresponding knife 125 to sever the web and to wipe the leading end of the web against the outer prepared surface of the empty core thereby starting a new roll on the core. The operation for clockwise winding of a roll R is identical to that explained above for counterclockwise winding, except that the reel 20 and cores 30 are rotated clockwise, and the upper knife 125 is fired (FIG. 2) rather than the lower knife.

It becomes apparent from the drawings and the above description that winding apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention provides several desirable features and advantages. For example, by providing the cores 30 with individual reversible drive motors and a reversible drive for the reel 20, along with the retractable carriage 70 for the pressure roll 95 and the dual knife mechanisms 120 spaced on opposite sides of the web W, the apparatus provides for conveniently and quickly converting from clockwise Winding to counterclockwise winding or vice versa.

The use of the pressure roll 95 as a rider roll during build-up of the winding roll and the actuation of the pressure roll by the reel 20 also provide an important feature of the invention. That is, by supporting the pressure roll 95 on the biased arms 90 and employing the limit switches 113 to control the carriage motor 78, the pressure roll 95 maintains a substantially constant force against the winding roll R during build-up. The incremental movement of the carriage 70 as the roll R builds up in diameter at the web transfer station A also results in producing very slow changes in the web path during winding so that the web is uniformly laid down onto the winding roll without producing steps or notches in the roll.

Another important feature is provided by moving the arms 90 in response to rotation of the reel 20 so that the firing of the pressure roll 95 against an empty rotating core 30 is controlled in precise time relation to the actuation of each knife mechanism through the rotary limit switch 24. As a result, the severing of the web and the transfer of the leading end of the web to the new core are assured of being completed in precise timed relation.

While the preferred construction of the carriage 70 includes a knife mechanism 120 both above and below the pressure roll 95 to provide for conveniently changing the direction of Winding, it is conceivable that a single knife mechanism may be used in installations where the change in direction of winding is infrequent. In such an installation, the knife mechanism 120 could be adapted to be quickly moved between positions above and below the pressure roll 95. Furthermore, while the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for continuously winding a web of material and for transferring the web from a full roll to an empty core, comprising a winder including a reel having means supporting at least two cores in parallel spaced relation, means for rotating said reel to move each said core between a roll unloading station and a web transfer station, a roll changer including generally horizontally extending track means, a carriage mounted on said track means, a pressure roll mounted on said carriage, means for moving said carriage on said track means to cause movement of said pressure roll between a retracted position and an extended position locating said pressure roll in the path of said cores, at least one knife, means on said carriage supporting said knife for movement between a retracted position relative to said pressure roll and an extended position projecting into the path of a web directed around said pressure roll to the winding roll,-

and means for moving said knife to sever the web and to direct its leading end into engagement with an empty core moved to said transfer station into pressure engagement with said pressure roll.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including two of said knives positioned one above and one below said pressure roll, means supporting each said knife for movement between corresponding said retracted and extended positions, and means for selectively moving either said knife according to the direction of winding of the web.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said knife include at least one fluid cylinder connected to said knife, and limit switch means connected to said reel for controlling the actuation of said fluid cylinder in response to rotation of said reel.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said track means comprise a pair of parallel spaced tracks, said carriage includes a pair of parallel spaced support members, and said means for moving said carriage on said track means comprise a pair of screw jacks one for each said support member, and comprising power drive means connected to said jacks to provide for simultaneous operation of said jacks to move said pressure roll between said retracted and extended positions.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said carriage includes a pair of spaced support members, and comprising a pair of generally vertically extending arms pivotally connected to said support members and supporting said pressure roll, and means mounted on said support members for biasing said arms to a predetermined position relative to said support members.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 including means actuated by the movement of said pressure roll relative to said support members of said carriage for controlling said means for moving said carriage.

7. Apparatus for continuously winding a web of material and for transferring the web from a full roll to an empty core, comprising a reel having means supporting at least two cores in parallel spaced relation, means for rotating said reel to move each said core between a roll unloading station and a web transfer station, a roll changer including spaced support members movable in a linear direction, a pressure roll, means pivotally connected to said support members and supporting said pressure roll for lateral movement relative to said support members, means for moving said support members to cause movement of said pressure roll between a retracted position providing for movement of a full roll carried by said reel and an extended position locating said pressure roll in the path of said cores on said reel, and means for moving said pressure roll supporting means relative to said support members to effect engagement of the Web with an empty core.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 including means actuated by the movement of said pressure roll supporting means relative to said support members for controlling said means for moving said support members to provide for build-up of a full roll at said web transfer station.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said means supporting said pressure roll includes a set of generally vertically extending arms pivotally connected to the corresponding said support members, and comprising arm means mounted on said arms, and roller means mounted on said reel for engaging said cam means on said arms for moving said pressure roll against said biasing means and for releasing said arms to cause said pressure roll to press against an empty core carried by said reel when said core arrives at a predetermined position in relation to said pressure roll.

10. Apparatus for continuously winding a web of material, comprising a reel having means supporting a plurality of cores in parallel spaced relation, means for rotating said reel to move each said core between a roll unloading station and a web transfer station, a roll changer including a pressure roll, pivot arm means supporting said pressure roll, carriage means supporting said'pivot 7 arm means and said pressure roll for linear movement, and means responsive to rotation of said reel for moving said pressure roll towards an empty said core on said reel.

11. Apparatus for continuously winding a web of material, comprising a reel having means supporting at least two cores in parallel spaced relation, reversible drive means for said reel and operable to move each said core between a roll unloading station and a web transfer station, reversible drive means for each said core, a roll changer including a carriage having spaced support members, a pressure roll, means pivotally connected to said members and supporting said pressure roll for movement relative to said carriage, means for moving said carriage linearly to cause movement of said pressure roll between a retracted position for movement of a full roll carried in either direction by said reel and an extended position locating said pressure roll in the path of said cores, and means including at least one knife mechanism mounted on said carriage for transferring the web from a full roll on one of said cores to an empty core positioned at said transfer station.

12. Apparatus for continuously winding a web of material and for transferring the web from a full roll to an empty core, comprising a winder including a rotatable reel having means supporting at least two cores in parallel spaced relation, reversible drive means for each said core and for said reel to move each said core between a roll unloading station and a web transfer station, a roll changer including a pair of parallel spaced generally horizontally extending tracks, a carriage mounted on said tracks, a pressure roll, a pair of generally vertically extending arms pivotally mounted on said carriage and 8 supporting said pressure roll, spring bias means connected to said arms, power operated screw jack means for moving said carriage on said tracks to cause movement of said pressure "roll between a retracted position and an extended position locating said pressure roll in the path of'said cores, an'upper anda lower knife having said pressure roll therebetween, means 'on said carriage supporting'each' said knife for movement between a retracted position relative to said pressure roll and an extended positionproj'ecting into the path of a web wrapped around said pressure roll, fiuid cylinder meansfor selectively moving each said knife'to' sever the'web and to direct its leading end into engagement with -an empty said core moved by said reel to said transfer station, means'for actuating said fluid cylinder means in response to rotation of said reel, and means mounted on said reel for moving said arms supporting said pressure roll against said springbias means and for releasing said arms in response to rotation of said reel for obtaining precise timing between the movement of said pressure roll towards one of said cores and the movement of the corresponding said knife. I

9 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS v 7/1960 Phelps 2 42 56 2/1961 Zernov r. 242--56 LEONARD D. CHRISTIAN, Primary Examiner US. or X.R. 242 

